ALLEGED CUSTOMS FRAUDS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1945, 31 December 1913, Page 7

ALLEGED CUSTOMS FRAUDS.

MOTOR-CAR INVOICES CASE,

INTERESTING EVIDENCE.

By Telegraph—Press Association—CoDyrieht London, December 29. In tho case in which Ralph Jlilburn, t -it 1 " John Ivcmsley, Edward William Idle, Bruce Anthony Cuthbertson, and Alfred Edivard Kemsley are charged on remand with conspiring with Raymond Ev, art Kcmsley, William Cowle, Cecil Thomas Bray, Charles Brown Kellow, Isaac Fizackorley, and others, to defraud His Majesty's Customs of duty on motor-cars, cycles, tyres, and accessories imported into Australia by means of falso invoices and declarations, between .January, 11105, and June, 1910, Mr. Shorland, manager for the\ClementTalbot Company, gavo further evidence. He. said it was absolutely false to say that his liim was persuaded to issue falso invoices.' Clerical mistakes had been made on buth sides. They often paid the Customs too much rather than too little. Nc-il's statement that his firm quoted unduly low prices was false. There was great difficulty in understanding Customs regulations, of which Australia's werc_ the worst. Ho described 'Barkley'-s visit to tho firm as more than inquisitorial. Ho supplied information under pressure, and through Barkley's threat that if he did not give it he (Barkley) would know Jiow to value Clement-Talbot cars when ihey reached ■Australia.

Tho case was adjourned till Wednesday.